Trailer Talk: ‘The Karate Kid’

Getting a movie made in Hollywood is a very difficult thing to do — especially these days — so you really have to wonder how some of the movies being made now get greenlit.

Out of all of the people involved, wasn’t there one person who could have said, “You know, no one really wants to see a remake of ‘The Karate Kid.’ Why are we making this movie?”

Every so often — and more often than necessary — you see another remake of a movie that might not have been all that great to begin with. Much of the charm of “The Karate Kid” came from the actors, not the story. The story itself had already been told many, many times. But Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, William Zabka and Martin Kove were so well cast that the movie was more than worth watching.

Plus, in a remake, the question arises: Will they even include the best parts, the crane kick and wax on/wax off scene? If they do, it will seem like a ripoff and if they don’t … well, what’s the point?

My advice? Skip the remake (in fact, skip most remakes) and just re-watch the original. It’s almost always the best way to go.

By the way, this picture is from People Magazine. Click here to see how they try to give the movie some positive press. You can learn about how Will Smith’s son got very basic acting tips from Jackie Chan and that the movie taught him to put his shoes away. You also can read the comments from readers that both attack and defend the choice of 11-year-old Jaden Smith for the role.

“The Karate Kid” (sometimes called “The King Fu Kid”) is scheduled to arrive in theaters June 10, 2010.